[axman88]

I saw this ad come up on our local Craigslist, and got very interested for a minute:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mcy/d/kewanee-1960-harley-davidson-topper/7286385119.html

I am selling an Original 1960 Harley Davidson Topper scooter. These were produced from 1960 to 1964. 2 stroke, pull start. Runs good, comes with title and maintenance manual. VERY RARE!! $4,000

The only scooter that Harley ever made, the Topper had fiberglass and steel body parts, and a 2 cycle engine, up to 10hp on later models.  These things are rare, and at $4K, that's a pretty good price, considering that a Cushman in equivalent condition usually carries a price tag around $1000 more.  I like the boxy two-tone styling too, just the right combination of retro cute and ungainly!  The Topper shared some components, including piston and rings, with the much more common, but still rare, Hummer, which was also made in HD's Milwaukee factory.  I've seen restored Hummers with asking prices above $10K.

https://www.bike-urious.com/1962-harley-davidson-topper/

http://harleytopperclub.com/timeline.htm

[Richard230]

I saw this ad come up on our local Craigslist, and got very interested for a minute:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mcy/d/kewanee-1960-harley-davidson-topper/7286385119.html

I am selling an Original 1960 Harley Davidson Topper scooter. These were produced from 1960 to 1964. 2 stroke, pull start. Runs good, comes with title and maintenance manual. VERY RARE!! $4,000

The only scooter that Harley ever made, the Topper had fiberglass and steel body parts, and a 2 cycle engine, up to 10hp on later models.  These things are rare, and at $4K, that's a pretty good price, considering that a Cushman in equivalent condition usually carries a price tag around $1000 more.  I like the boxy two-tone styling too, just the right combination of retro cute and ungainly!  The Topper shared some components, including piston and rings, with the much more common, but still rare, Hummer, which was also made in HD's Milwaukee factory.  I've seen restored Hummers with asking prices above $10K.

https://www.bike-urious.com/1962-harley-davidson-topper/

http://harleytopperclub.com/timeline.htm

I'll say that is rare. The only time I ever saw one was in the early 1960's in the lower level of the H-D San Francisco dealership, which was located on the street behind my dentist. I might add that across the street was a small MV dealership. I recall that they had one of their pedestrian 350s in the window display.

[Bilgemaster]

"Harley Davidson Topper" sounds nicely lurid, like some kinkster Craigslist Personals category ("HDT seeks BBF for Swamp Riding--No Insurance Salesmen, Furries or other freaks please"), so it does have that going for it.

In case one is interested in this rather peculiarly constructed breed of scooter, Michael Waller of "Britannia Motorcycles" YouTube channel fame got right down into the weird guts of one in 7 parts, beginning here: https://youtu.be/Dl0jvCl4XSg

[AzCal Retred]

I was fascinated by the explanation of how the air pressure on the solid wheels promoted vertical stability - who knew! That parking brake - there's a patent lurking there, I know it. And maybe some aftermarket sprocket sales from drive-aways...   Thanks - ACR -

[zimmemr]

I was fascinated by the explanation of how the air pressure on the solid wheels promoted vertical stability - who knew! That parking brake - there's a patent lurking there, I know it. And maybe some aftermarket sprocket sales from drive-aways...   Thanks - ACR -

I think they offered a side car for it as well. I have a photo somewhere of Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn being ferried out to the pitchers mound on a Topper with a sidecar, it might have been a one-off though.